Helen has a great post about neighbors – which got me thinking (again) about my neighbors. We live in a new development with construction going on behind the people across the street from us. When we moved in, there were still a handful of houses being finished or just getting started, but now everything is done and from what I can tell, there are people living in all of them.
I grew up surrounded by family: Grandma next door, Aunt next door to her, etc. The rest of my family lived in the same town or another town 10 minutes away. Having great neighbors was just a given – and I wonder if that’s because of being in a small town?
Here, not so small townish. When we moved in, one side of our neighbors was also moving in – the same day! We said hi and that was about it. Until summer came and our kids started playing together. But an 8 year old (neighbor) doesn’t always like playing with toddlers (mine) – so that didn’t last too long.
On the other side of us we have neighbors with kids. And the kids are our age! But they aren’t the most social people. When they moved in, they happened to be outside one of the times when I was leaving – so I stopped, introduced myself and said welcome to the neighborhood. We’ve talked to a handful of others, but not everyday.
Considering we live on a street that ends in a cul-de-sac, I was so excited to think of the neighborhood parties, the kids playing in the street together, the in general fun times to be had by all.
And so I’m disappointed. I’m disappointed that the people taking walks at night don’t glance at us while we are cleaning the garage or watching our kids ride bike. I’m disappointed that neighbors don’t stop by to welcome you to the neighborhood. I’m disappointed that there are not whole flocks of kids running around together, going house to house because they are all friends and hey that’s what kids do. Granted, we aren’t out there going up to everyone and trying to get them involved so I wonder, is it true that it just takes one person?
It’s the south and it’s hot – we are generally inside with the ac blasting. Sitting out front yesterday, I debated putting a fan out there to hit me. LOL Plus my chairs are too low for anyone to really see me sitting there! Ruins the point of visiting with neighbors.
And tying this into crafting 😉 I remember when I was crafting as a child, living next door to my grandma, I could run 40 feet and ask her a question about it. I long to find a crafty partner here!
I have a lot more thoughts on this, but Helen’s post spurned that. 🙂
If I didn’t know where you live, I’d swear you were writing about MY cul de sac. Of the two neighbors we ever spent much time talking to, one moved in the same day we did! Both have now moved on, pout. I’ve actually met the new fellow across the street once — he came to our party in December — haven’t seen him since. I’ve never even SEEN the other ones.
And the new folks next door? I met them the day I saw them in their yard before they moved in, because I marched over and introduced myself…
I too envisioned kids playing in the cul de sac, block parties… friendliness abounding..
next time we move, I may take a poll of the neighbors FIRST!
If I didn’t know where you live, I’d swear you were writing about MY cul de sac. Of the two neighbors we ever spent much time talking to, one moved in the same day we did! Both have now moved on, pout. I’ve actually met the new fellow across the street once — he came to our party in December — haven’t seen him since. I’ve never even SEEN the other ones.
And the new folks next door? I met them the day I saw them in their yard before they moved in, because I marched over and introduced myself…
I too envisioned kids playing in the cul de sac, block parties… friendliness abounding..
next time we move, I may take a poll of the neighbors FIRST!
I read an article in Real Simple about a neighborhood just like the one we both *want* LOL it sounded so cool, I told my husband before we move again we are surveying the place we move to.
I read an article in Real Simple about a neighborhood just like the one we both *want* LOL it sounded so cool, I told my husband before we move again we are surveying the place we move to.